Energy Projects in Michigan Receive $19 Million More

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that Michigan will receive $19,599,600 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy efficiency and conservation activities. Under the Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, the state will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.

Michigan will use its Recovery Act EECBG funds to substantially improve energy efficiency, which is a centerpiece of the state’s plan to transform its economy: “Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow.” Specifically, this funding will be used to support programs that will contribute to meeting the state’s aggressive goal to reduce fossil fuel generated electricity by 45 percent by 2012.

Michigan’s EECBG funds will be administered by the Department of Labor, Energy and Economic Growth, Bureau of Energy Systems.

Local cities and counties will be able to use their funds for a wide variety of energy efficiency and conservation activities, including building audits and retrofits, financial incentive programs, upgrades to traffic signals and streetlights,implementation and enforcement of advanced building codes, and installation of renewable energy technologies on government buildings.

To ensure that these Recovery Act funds reach as many local cities and counties as possible, the state will encourage communities to partner together through multi jurisdictional applications and to leverage other public and private resources. Michigan will use a separate competitive solicitation to award funds for Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Solid State Lighting projects. Subgrants will range from $50,000 to $250,000 and enable projects that will lower both energy and maintenance costs for local communities.